A mural at Haywood Mall near the lower-level entrance by Texas de Brazil uses familiar Upstate imagery to open a conversation about mental health. Paris Mountain, butterflies and a semicolon appear in the artwork, created in memory of a Greenville man who died by suicide.
The project brought together Haywood Mall, the nonprofit Walt's Waltz and Greenville artist Nick Burns, according to Greenville Online. The mural honors Walt, the late son of Walt's Waltz founder Susan Crooks. He died by suicide in 2019 at age 35 after struggling with treatment-resistant anxiety. Crooks founded the organization in his memory.
Why Paris Mountain and a Semicolon
The landscape reflects Walt's connection to the outdoors: he enjoyed hiking and swimming at Paris Mountain, where he found peace, the report says. The semicolon is used as a symbol of suicide prevention. Haywood Mall says the mural is intended to raise mental-health awareness and challenge stigma.
Crooks selected Burns for the work; he had previously painted a portrait of Walt. Greenville Online reported that Burns sees the mural as an opportunity for people to engage with one another. The mall has created a space beside the artwork where shoppers can pause and check in with those around them.
A Nonprofit Born Out of Loss
Crooks has worked through Walt's Waltz to educate the community and host free mental-health events, the report says. Its account describes the organization's early legal timeline in two different ways: one passage says it became a corporation three weeks after Walt's death, while another says it became a nonprofit within six months. Crooks said that “life is really valuable and important.”
Haywood Mall marketing director Brandi Crowe said the mall could help bring Crooks' vision to life, according to the report. The mall plans to dedicate the mural Friday during Suicide Prevention Month, with a butterfly garden planting as part of the event.
Shopping Event and Resources on Site
Kendra Scott will hold a shopping event at Haywood Mall Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with 20% of proceeds going to Walt's Waltz, according to Greenville Online. A resource box near the mural will offer Walt's Waltz pins, butterfly-logo coloring sheets and a QR code for visitors seeking more information or support.
Local data and support
For local context, Live5 News reported 62 suicide deaths in Greenville County as of Sept. 12, 2025. The outlet also reported that annual county counts ranged from 77 to 93 between 2016 and 2024, with 84 deaths in 2024. The 62 figure is a partial-year snapshot, not a rate or proof of a trend, and it does not establish the mural’s impact. According to 988 SC, the state lifeline is answered by Mental Health America of Greenville County and the BHDD Office of Mental Health – Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center. A separate, earlier prevention effort began in 2019: the South Carolina Department of Education reported that Mental Health America of Greenville County began serving the state with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline through a grant and partnership. That hotline initiative was distinct from the mall’s public-art project.
Anyone experiencing a mental-health crisis can call or text 988 to reach the crisis lifeline.
